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To the Captain Superintendent of Police the thanks of the Department are due for allowing officers in charge of stations to engage gangs of coolies to beat out fires which would otherwise have done serious damage before foresters could be transported to the affected areas.
About 20 miles of old fire barriers were cleared in Kowloon, 17 miles in Hongkong and 5 miles at Fau Ling, these barriers proved most useful in confining fires to comparatively small areas during the year.
Forest(rards' Service.-The total number of persons arrested or proceeded against by summons for forestry offences during the year was 287, of these 252 were convicted, 20 cautioned, 5 discharged, 8 had their bail estreated and two were required to find a personal bond.
Particulars of these cases are given in Tables II and III.
Owing to the damage done to Pine Plantations in the vicinity of the village of Kau Pui Shek, an enquiry authorised by Ordinance No. 6 of 1917 was held by the Honourable the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the Superintendent and resulted in a fine of $50 being imposed on the village.
A similar inquiry into the cutting of certain wild trees near Tung Kok Wai was held by the District Officer, North, and the Superintendent and resulted in five persons being fined a total sum of $47.
Claims amounting to $128.50 were made against 4 building contractors who were responsible for damage to roadside trees or plantations, this sum was deducted from their securities by the Public Works Department and credited to Timber Sales.
Miscellaneous Planting.--In Stanley Military Cemetery the following flowering shrubs and trees were planted, 22 Allamanda, 29 Hibiscus Lambertianus, 6 Archontophoenix, 2 Bougainvillea, 6 Poinciana and 1 Bauhinia Blakeana. The cemetery was recently placed under our care and a small annual fee is paid by Military Authorities for its upkeep.
Sixteen mixed flowering shrubs were planted on a waste space immediately in front of Aberdeen Police Station.
On a grass plot above Mount Austin Barracks, Peak Road, one Bauhinia Blakeana and 56 flowering shrubs were planted.
On a bare bank above the Disinfecting Station, Caine Road, 20 flowering shrubs were planted.
Seventy-nine native Azaleas which were growing in the line of proposed new roads in the Wong Nei Chong district were taken up and replanted elsewhere.
Ficus creepers and flowering shrubs were planted on the banks and grass plot by the side of the Police Station at Hung Hom.
New trees, creepers and flowering shrubs were planted in the grounds of the Water Police Station, Kowloon, and the shrubs pruned and put into good order generally.
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